More affordable housing and hundreds of jobs are on the way in Morris Heights with Thursday's groundbreaking of a co-op.

The $18 million project at 100 Featherbed Lane consists of a 48-unit residential development. Families earning between $40,000 and $90,000 are being targeted for the site, which will include parking and ground-floor retail space.Borough President Adolfo Carrión Jr. believes creating the homes will spur investment. The local community board also feels business owners will benefit, and will hopefully obtain the support they need to form a business improvement district.

Officials say construction will create 200 local jobs.

Mastermind Development, which is heading up the project, is building green with energy-efficient heating and lighting systems and other environmentally friendly technology.

"Green buildings are more expensive to build ? that's a fact," says Radame Perez, of Mastermind Development. "But in the long run, sustainability reaps value beyond measurability."